Hospitality, relaxation, and a luxury experience. Those three words are always on the lips of everyone I know when describing their experience with Turkish Airlines. And despite that, I have not yet had the chance to fly in one of their planes. I did live in Türkiye, specifically in Istanbul, and I have really internalized the sentence “where the world meets”. The city, standing between two continents, represents this idea. In this context, Turkish Airlines functions as an instrument of national influence, connecting citizens from around the world.
History of Turkish Airlines – Flying the Flag
The airline was founded in 1933, when the State Airlines Administration began flight with just five aircraft serving several domestic routes. It was led by Fesan Evrensev, Türkiye’s first aviator, and the team was composed of just 30 employees. By 1947, Turkish Airlines embarked on its first international flight, from Istanbul to Athens, and then in the 50s a period of rapid expansion started. Cairo, Beirut, Nicosia … the fleet grew by 33 aircraft in one decade.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Türkiye wanted to diversify its international relations. Consequently, the airline expanded to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, opening routes to Belgrade, Sofia, and Budapest. Similarly, labour migration to Western Europe influenced the airline’s focus on routes to West Germany and other European countries.
During the 1980s, under Turgut Özal, former Prime Minister and President of Türkiye, Turkish Airlines was positioned as a key tool of foreign policy. The expansion of new routes towards Asia, the Middle East, and eventually to the newly independent Central Asian Republics supported Türkiye’s role as a bridge between regions.
Even after the partial privatization in the 1990s and 2000s, the Turkish government retained significant influence over the company. Under the AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political party), the airline’s expansion towards Asia and Africa mirrors Türkiye’s foreign policy. This growth mainly happened since 2003, when the Turkish government started to open embassies in African countries and to support private-sector initiatives, with the airline being used as a connectivity tool.
Moreover, Istanbul’s growth as a center for aviation helps strengthen the country’s image as a connector between continents. In this sense, the construction of the Istanbul Airport represents the climax of the country’s global strategy. Officially opened on the 29 of October 2018, marking the anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic, the airport was designed to replace the Atatürk Airport and transform Istanbul into a major global aviation hub. Nowadays, the airport averages more than 1,500 flights per day.
Airlines as Instruments of Soft Power
Defined by Joseph S. Nye, soft power refers to a country’s ability to shape the preferences of others through attraction rather than coercion. This means that culture, values, and policies have become the main tool of influence to gently attract rather than force other actors.
Airlines fit surprisingly well within this framework. As scholars like Selçuk argued, national carriers are the flying symbols of the state, and every flight has become a miniature diplomatic mission. From the design of the cabin to the meals served onboard, passengers are introduced to the culture and identity the airline represents.
Additionally, as Willson portrayed it, for a state to be influential today, it needs to combine different forms of power rather than a strict division between soft and hard power. In this sense, airlines can also be part of a bigger strategy where attraction, economic interests, and geopolitical considerations overlap.
With flights to over 130 countries and more than 350 destinations, Turkish Airlines can be said to function as a global bridge. Moreover, in terms of humanitarian help, one of the most notable cases is its involvement in Somalia. In August 2011, the country was passing through a famine, with millions at risk of starvation. At that time, Mogadishu was largely isolated from international traffic because of conflict and instability. In response, Turkish Airlines became one of the first major international carriers to resume regular flights. Additionally, it transported humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and essential goods, often in coordination with Turkish government agencies and international relief efforts.
Furthermore, Turkish Airlines has been an important actor in the full-scale invasion of Russia against Ukraine. When the aggression started in 2022, many Turkish citizens were stranded in Ukraine, so the airline organized an evacuation flight from Ukraine to Romania. It also assisted in transporting 130 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) personnel from Russia to Istanbul. Additionally, despite cancelling several routes, flights started to arrive at major Russian destinations like Moscow and St. Petersburg after the European bans on Russian airlines. This made Istanbul the most important transit point for Russians traveling to and from Europe.
Boarding
Turkish Airlines has built its reputation on turning long travel into an experience that is described by Forbes Magazine as comfort, attention to detail, and a sense of luxury above the standard airline service. The airline is frequently ranked among the best airlines in Europe and is recognized by the Guinness World Records for serving the most countries worldwide. Meals are described by their passengers as a dining experience. They are inspired by mezze-style dishes and accompanied by traditional Turkish Coffee. Also, for a long layover in Istanbul, the airline has a stopover programme, which includes guided tours around the city.
So, next time you get on a plane, and if you are lucky enough to be on a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, you might realize that the journey is not only about distance but also about connection and foreign policy.
Photo by mehmetkali via https://pixabay.com/photos/thy-istanbul-taxi-airport-aircraft-5313124/
